When Mark Twain visited Palestine in 1867, the land was empty and desolate. (Old City of Jerusalem in the 19th century)

On his landmark visit to Israel 150 years ago, American literary giant Mark Twain witnessed what he did not then know was the start of the prophetic return of the Jewish people to the land. The renowned travel book that became the foundation for his success, Innocents Abroad, painted a picture of a holy land whose desolation would serve as the beginning point of prophecy brought to life. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

MUNICH – World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder on Wednesday thanked the German government for its long-awaited tribute to the 11 Israeli sportsmen and German policeman murdered by Palestinian terrorists in the Olympic Village during the 1972 Munich games, and said: “Today we mark not just a tragedy, but a terrible wrong that took place here 45 years ago. Let me be clear from the start. This monument should not have taken 45 years to build.”Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

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Brussels, June 27th, 2017 – The European Coalition for Israel has called upon the Chairman of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, Dr. Jacek Purchla, to do everything in his power to stop the Palestinian attempt to declare the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron an endangered Palestinian cultural heritage site, thus denying any Jewish links to this second most holy site in Judaism.

Israel will find itself fighting on two fronts at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee annual assembly in Poland next week after Jordan put forward a motion to keep the Old City of Jerusalem on its list of endangered sites. Another motion will seek to have the Old City of Hebron – including the Tomb of the Patriarchs – added to the list and registered under the “State of Palestine.” Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

But for the past five years, despite broad internal consensus and consistent pressure, the American Jewish establishment has been unable to persuade Israel’s government to create an equitable space for non-Orthodox prayer at the Western Wall. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

Minister Gilad Erdan appeals to UN Secretary-General Guterres to stop hostile conference scheduled to take place at the UN headquarters this month; writing to Guterres and telling him the groups participating are entirely dedicated to defaming and ‘delegitimizing Israel’ Erdan also reaches out to US Senator Marco Rubio, urging him to ‘continue to speak out against use of UN funds to promote the BDS campaign.’

BDS protest

Israel is gearing up to push back against a conference being hosted next week by the UN in the organization’s New York headquarters to mark what it describes as the “anniversary of the Israeli occupation.” Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

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June 2nd, 2017 – The European Coalition for Israel has marked the 50th Anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem by hosting a screening of a new documentary “In Our Hand – The Battle for Jerusalem” in the European Parliament in Brussels. The documentary, which had its European premiere on Thursday night, was presented by producer Gordon Robertson who also answered questions after the film. Explaining why he had just completed his third documentary on an issue related to Israel he replied:
“The Jewish people simply have the best stories. For over 4000 years, the narrative of the Jewish people has inspired us and given us the stories that define our western civilization.” Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

United Nations Secretary-General Guterres met with senior officials of the Simon Wiesenthal Center at his offices at UN headquarters in New York.

The discussion covered a wide range of issues including efforts to make terrorism a crime against humanity, the UN’s role in countering burgeoning anti-Semitism in Europe, ending the demonizing and abuse of Israel in and by UN agencies, including UNRWA, UNESCO, and the UN Human Rights Council, and stumbling blocks hampering Middle East peace prospects. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

We learn from today’s verse just how extraordinary the prophets of Israel were in their complete faith that God would restore Zion. Isaiah goes so far as to name his children with names of hope and promise, as signs that the redemption will come! It is these two qualities of faith and hope that are the companions of a soldier on the battlefield. Armed with belief, the soldier can carry on knowing that the cause of peace and freedom is worth his effort. On America’s Memorial Day, the IDF stands with the United States, honoring all those who lost their lives while defending peace and freedom for ALL people.

President Trump reportedly outraged with Palestinian Authority leader. ‘The Israelis showed me that you are involved in incitement.’

Abbas and Trump (Reuters)

President Donald Trump lambasted Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, after the president claims the PA leader deceived him regarding his party’s involvement in anti-Israel incitement.

Trump met with Abbas in the PA-controlled city of Bethlehem last week during his two-day visit to Israel. The two held a joint press conference, at which time the president praised Abbas’ commitment to restarting negotiations with Israel for a final status agreement. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

Just as Israel prepares to celebrate 50 years of a united Jerusalem, the White House released a video entitled “POTUS Abroad” promoting President Trump’s upcoming overseas trip, including a visit to Israel.

In the shocking map of Israel displayed in the White House video, all of the Golan Heights, Judea, Samaria, and the Old City of Jerusalem, which includes the Western Wall, are depicted as being outside the Jewish state.

Although the original video posted on the White House Youtube channel was apparently removed, it appears on another channel where it can still be seen below.

In case the video gets removed, we have posted a screenshot of the video in which the “shrunken” map of Israel can be seen.

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“Come writers and critics
Who prophesies with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.”
(Simon and Garfunkel.)

The European Parliament voted on Thursday afternoon on its annual position on ways of “Achieving the two-state solution in the Middle East”. The Resolution has been postponed for a couple of months, presumably to allow the MEPs to get a better sense of the lay of the land following the US Presidential paradigm shift in pushing the process back up on the list marked “urgent” (regular readers will know from previous newsletters that many presidents prefer to ignore the Siren’s call of Israeli-Palestinian conflict.) Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

Arab states are reportedly prepared to consider improved relations with Israel if the Jewish state makes various concessions to reach a peace deal with the Palestinians.

The Wall Street Journalreported Monday that as part of a process of normalizing ties with Israel, Gulf states expressed the willingness to set up telecommunication lines between the Jewish state and Arab nations. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responds to news that U.S. President Donald Trump may be rethinking his promise to move the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in view of how relocation would affect efforts to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal.

The possible relocation of the U.S. Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem was at the center of a pointed exchange between Israel and the White House on Sunday.

U.S. President Donald Trump is trying to determine how keeping his election promise to move the embassy may affect his hopes of brokering a peace deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said. But in Israel, the Prime Minister’s Office said the move would only help advance the peace process.

Since taking office in January, Trump has shown signs of backpedaling on his campaign pledge to move the embassy, while vowing to do what is necessary to clinch a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

NEW YORK – The World Jewish Congress and dozens of its affiliated communities around the world are urging national football associations to reject a forthcoming vote regarding the standing of the Israeli Football Association (IFA) within Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), set to take place at the international football body’s upcoming Congress in Bahrain.

In a letter to FIFA President Gianni Infantino, World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder wrote: “The WJC strongly opposes any efforts by member countries to manipulate FIFA for their own political interests. The campaign of the Palestinian Football Association (PFA) to sanction Israel has no place on the FIFA Congress’ agenda. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

NEW YORK – World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder on Tuesday condemned the UNESCO Executive Board’s decision to vote in favor of a decision rejecting Israeli sovereignty and jurisdiction over Jerusalem as a “distorted, dangerous, and illegitimate revision of history,” and thanked the 10 member states that opposed the decision for “speaking up for truth and justice”.

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Rabbi Hier lights Israel Independence Day torch at 69th anniversary of the State of Israel and 50th anniversary of Jerusalem’s reunification

“I recognize that by lighting this torch I am merely a messenger for previous generations of Jews … This is not a personal honor, but a recognition of the sacred work of the Simon Wiesenthal Center to defend the Jewish people, honor the principles of human dignity and impart our values to generations to come at the Museum of Tolerance Jerusalem,” — Rabbi Marvin Hier, pictured with Taglit-Birthright chairman Michael Steinhardt, the first two non-Israelis ever chosen for this honor.

Other torches were lit by Israeli singer and actor Yehoram Gaon; co-founder and CTO of Mobileye Amnon Shashua; writer Eli Amir; soccer player Uri Malmilian; Head of the Department of General Surgery at Hadassah Medical Center Dr. Eid Ahmed; Hana Henkin, who lost her son and daughter-in-law in a terror attack; Dina Samte of the Jewish Institute for the Blind; restaurateur Eli Mizrahi; Six-Day War veteran Yaakov Hetz; ; Miri Erenthal, who founded the Zichron Menahem organization to aid children with cancer and their families; Lt. Dean Ergil of the paratroopers; and Maj. Yaros Shigut, who immigrated from Ethiopia and currently serves as head of the information department at the Education and Youth Officer’s headquarters.

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Brussels, May 2nd, 2017 – The European Coalition for Israel has sent the Prime Minister of Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, a personal letter congratulating him and the State of Israel on the occasion of its 69th birthday. ECI met with the Prime Minister in Jerusalem in September of last year. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

The State of Israel observes Yom haZikkaron, the memorial day for fallen soldiers and victims of terrorism, on Monday May 1. Yom haAtsmaut, Israel Independence Day, is celebrated on Tuesday May 2. Most Jews today do not remember being alive in a world where there was no State of Israel; but if we expand our historical memory, we will be reminded of nearly 2000 years of Jewish “statelessness” with all the negative features that went with that. The very existence of a strong, thriving and democratic Israel is an amazing testimony to the endurance of the Jewish People and the providence of the Almighty. Here are some thoughts on “Israel: A Tiny Nation, A Great Destiny.”https://www.jewishideas.org/article/israel-tiny-nation-great-destiny-thoughts-yom-haatsmaut

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Jerusalem is under attack. A UN body is set to ambush Israel and ERASE the Jewish people’s 4,000-year bond to Jerusalem.

Right now, enemies of Israel are plotting against her. They are pushing to declare Israel has NO rights in her own eternal capital of Jerusalem.

Time is running out. The vote is set for Tuesday, on Israel’s Independence Day. Outrage isn’t enough. The attack own Israeli rights in the city need to be fought. Supporters of Israel need to make our voice heard.

This is a critical issue. The UN attack could undermine Israel’s connection to Jerusalem — and Israel’s very right to exist. If the Jewish people do not have rights in Jerusalem, their eternal capital for over 3000 years, where do they have a right to live?

If we don’t act now, Judaism could lose its place at its most sacred site, Israel’s standing could be in danger and so could freedom of religion in Jerusalem. In the face of this travesty, we must stand up for Israel.

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EIPA Update

EIPA board Member Fulvio Martusciello MEP, in a landmark move, has managed to introduce a clause into the EU’s complex legal policy that could protect Israel against boycotts in Europe. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara at a Mimouna celebration in Or Akiva. (photo credit:KOBY GIDEON/GPO)

Enormous amounts of energy and preparation go into the first day of Passover, culminating in the Seder that brings the family together in an intense and meaningful encounter that lasts until the small hours of the morning. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

We like our problems clean and direct. Good versus evil. Good fights evil. Good wins.

The Syrian regime of President Assad is evil. Its use of chemical weapons to murder children was barbaric. It makes sense to not let him get away with it. So, you can argue that President Trump was right to order missile strikes against the regime.Continue a ler (Continue reading)→

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Dear Friends,
Please read about the worldwide activities of the Simon Wiesenthal Center below and forward to your friends and family.
Thank you

April 9, 2017

It was this month, 72 years ago in Berlin, in 1945 that Adolf Hitler wrote his final will in which he predicted it would take a few centuries before anti-Semitism would come back. Of course it took a lot less than a few centuries. But even Hitler could not have predicted that in addition to the familiar slogans of Jew hatred, there would be a much more sophisticated kind of anti-Semitism that would be regularly deployed even in the halls of the United Nations – the very international organization created in order to prevent another Holocaust. ­

To explain, let me first tell you about a remarkable encounter I had with David Ben-Gurion in the summer of 1971 when I was a rabbi in Vancouver and took
a group of teenagers for their first trip to Israel. We had the special privilege to spend nearly an hour with Ben-Gurion who had retired to his kibbutz in S’De Boker. ­ To this day, I shall never forget what he told our group. He said when you go home I want you to thank your parents and grandparents on my behalf for all they are doing for the State of Israel. Tell them that without their help, without the help of Diaspora Jewry, there would be no State of Israel. Continue a ler (Continue reading)→